My name is Helen Nicolai
“I believe the greatest moments are born from genuine human connection. My work is the art of capturing them.”
Seeing with the Heart and the Mind
Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by the stories of people with a lifetime of experience. I believe that a great photograph, film or a compelling story holds a piece of life itself. My camera is just a tool. True connection, authentic portraits, and unforgettable experiences are created with empathy and understanding. This philosophy is the foundation of everything I do.
From Handcraft to Heart’s Work
Start as a Milliner
For over 30 years, my professional life has revolved around human aesthetics. My journey began with the traditional craft of a milliner, a period crowned by a talent scholarship for painting at academies in Trier and Paris.
The Beginnings
Fashion Designer Diploma
I deepened this foundation in craftsmanship by studying fashion design at the renowned Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design, completing my studies as a graduate designer at the Kunsthochschule Berlin Weißensee. I explored the fundamentals of design – from typography and anatomy to psychology and philosophy.
Creative Growth
People Photographer
But it was a photography class at art university with the great Professor Ute Mahler that ignited my true passion. In photography, and today in my Salon, everything comes together: my profound love for people and my desire to shape their stories aesthetically.
Picture Passion
Start as a Milliner
For over 30 years, my professional life has revolved around human aesthetics. My journey began with the traditional craft of a milliner, a period crowned by a talent scholarship for painting at academies in Trier and Paris.
Fashion Designer Diploma
I deepened this foundation in craftsmanship by studying fashion design at the renowned Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design, completing my studies as a graduate designer at the Kunsthochschule Berlin Weißensee. I explored the fundamentals of design – from typography and anatomy to psychology and philosophy.
People Photographer
But it was a photography class at art university with the great Professor Ute Mahler that ignited my true passion. In photography, and today in my Salon, everything comes together: my profound love for people and my desire to shape their stories aesthetically.
A Relationship Built on Trust
The Person Behind the Camera
A dear friend once described me as ‘the woman who sees with her heart.’ To give you a better sense of who I am, I asked clients and friends for the words that come to mind when they think of me. This is what they shared:
Helpful, very creative, open, funny, compassionate, intelligent, sociable, humorous, charismatic, friendly, demanding, positive-minded, reliable, honest, humane, organisationally talented, outgoing, very funny, loving, punctual, quick-witted, warm-hearted.
Let’s Start Our Conversation
Whether for a portrait, a life story, or a journey, it all begins with getting to know each other. I look forward to welcoming you to my Salon.
